Michael K. Yamaoka “Rhapsody and Ritual”

Atlantic Gallery

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Michael K. Yamaoka continues to explore the bold new direction he introduced in his groundbreaking 2014 show, in captivating new photographs of the female figure in settings around the world.

“Rhapsody and Ritual” is the evolution of Mr.Yamaoka’s work, building on the theme he established in his previous exhibi- tion, “Monumental Fantasies,” of landscapes graced by the presence of a beautiful “goddess” figure. In this new series, the women themselves takes on aspects of the settings in which they appear—from a possibly-haunted forest or the stone bulwarks of a samurai edifice in ancient Japan, to moonrise in Red Square, Moscow, to a cascading waterfall in the fjords of Norway, to the rain-washed streets of London, to the canyons of Manhattan’s financial district—the women are perfectly at home in their splendid solitude. Their beautiful forms in stark isolation heighten the impact of these haunting images, and evoke musical comparisons. Expanding his new direction, which includes nude and partially draped figures, Mr. Yamaoka continues to explore his signature theme of the ravages of time and the timeless, adding a different, more sensual, visual element. Whether in brilliant pops of color, dramatically contrasting tones, or almost monochromatic hues, the new images reflect the many moods of very self-possessed females in settings of history and fantasy.

“For many years I traveled the world in search of the backgrounds of walls and textures that express my own vision of the passage of time. I’ve recently returned to incorporating the female form in these images, pushing the capabilities of new technology to express my ideas,” says Mr. Yamaoka. “I have heightened the sense of place and the atmosphere of the landscapes, travelling especially to places I’ve always dreamed of photographing, like the fjords of Norway. I hope these images tell a story to the viewer, too.”

Born in Japan, Mr. Yamaoka studied at Waseda University in Tokyo and graduated with a degree in photography from Art Center College of Design in California. He began his career in commercial photography at BBD&O in New York before opening his own studio, where his clients included AT&T, Toshiba, General Electric, PepsiCo, Time-Life and others of the Fortune 500 list. Simultaneously, he built a body of personal work, making images of day-to-day encounters outside the studio.

After the death of his son in 1997, Mr. Yamaoka concentrated solely on his personal photography, publishing a book, Odyssey, A 35 Year Photographic Journey, and establishing a scholarship in his son’s memory. Shooting extensively worldwide, he continued to develop the themes of texture, stillness, and singularities, in details that capture the passage of time. He has exhibited in critically acclaimed solo shows in New York, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nuremberg, in many cities in Bavaria, Germany, and at the German Consulate in New York. Mr. Yamaoka’s work is included in private and corporate collections worldwide, and in 2008 he was honored when I.M. Pei requested a print for his personal collection.
Says Mr. Yamaoka, “Whenever I shoot in beautiful surroundings such as at the foot of a cascading waterfall in the fjords of Norway, I can hear music in my mind that I long to translate into visual terms. I hope my viewers can hear it too.”